After final road race this year I have whole 9 months to next race. I don’t care about positions just want to improve compared to previous years. Cours is 112km and 1462hm. I think it’s a “rolling road race” program I need. But 9 months away the as that ok to have so much base etc or should I do stuff differently for best results? Thanks
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Use the plan builder
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I did. But planbuilder suggest one long base/build phase rather than multiple cycles. Just wondering if that is most optimal rather than for example 3 phases each 3 months with base/build/speciality?
Its showing the standard 12 weeks of base, then build and then speciality. Not sure what you mean.
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12 weeks of base, then 9 weeks of build and 9 weeks of speciality yes.
Would it be better to perhaps do more than 1 “cycle” so maybe 4 weeks of base, 3 weeks of build and 3 weeks of specialty… x 3?
Perhaps 1 program with general fitness → FTP builder. Afterwards 1 program with General fitness → Sustained Power. And finally the custom planbuilder for the A event?
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For me, 9 months would be too long physically and mentally to give 100% continuously training for an event. I’d create a “fake” event about 3.5 months out, then take a couple easy/fun weeks to recharge and then do a proper focused ~5 month plan targeting my A race. You won’t be starting from zero 5 months out, so should be plenty of time to firm up the base and do a proper build/specialty/taper. In my experience, peak fitness is harder to hold than it is to achieve (particularly the mental motivation). You don’t want to be peaking months before your event with nowhere to go but down.
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@JanK, I took a look at your account and what you have going, and I think it’s pretty solid!
For your second plan, you have a nice Base>>Build>>Specialty Phase leading into it, and the first plan, even though it is shorter, should keep things fun for you!
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Thanks for the input. It motivates me to follow a plan and by that being consistent. But yeah might have to break it down a bit for the fun, that’s also why I was thinking about if I would improve more by doing minor cycles in like 2-3 different plans rather than 1 big one for 9 months. But perhaps it doesn’t matter really. Base phase also seem to include threshold and Vo2max sessions and not just Sweet spot so perhaps the difference in the plans aren’t that much, and it doesn’t matter what you select (generel fitness->”something” vs custom plan for an Event)?
Yep, my #1 criteria for a plan is whether I’ll be motivated to follow it or not. I know there are some things I could change about my approach that might make me stronger, but at the risk of losing motivation and failing to execute the plan. Better to have a “less optimal” plan that you execute with enthusiasm vs. a “perfect plan” that is a constant beat down and falls apart.
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Thanks Caro,
What is your opinion on most optimal plan(s). Several smaller ones and by that multiple build/speciality cycles or 1 big like I have as the second plan you saw?
I would like the most optimal one, but not sure which one. Insight be most motivated to follow 2-3 smaller ones but if I know the the current 9 months plan with a long base/build/speciality is best I’ll go with that one. Is there a chance to plateau in fitness with too long periods?
Welcome @JanK 
I wouldn’t say there’s an optimal training plan, but rather it all depends on the athlete’s racing schedule.
However, if you have the time and patience, then having a longer Base Phase can be super beneficial to building the backbone of your engine. A strong and big base supports an even higher peak.
We actually have a great blog post on the subject: Cycling Base Training: Why and How to Build Your Aerobic Base
All that said, you have a decent training history! So, whichever one you choose, I think you’ll benefit! (You won’t plateau with “too long” of phases, look at them as stepping stones. Each one is designed to get you to the next step).
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Hi Jan - this wouldn’t happen to be Cape Town cycle tour, would it? On the off-chance it is, I’d train and try to find a team for DC or similar race Oct-Nov time, also try to do the seeding races like Winelands Tour, that is pretty similar and you can use it as a tune up race.
If I’m wrong on that please ignore me entirely!
Naah just a local amateur race near my neighborhood in Denmark
Always trying to optimize training with the time I have 
Ah! Well - if there’s an early winter race you can enter, or even just plan a zwift race to tune up, about 8 weeks before your goal event, I would probably try to do something like that to break it up.
I’ve decided to take the FTP builder plan for 3 months. Then a mental “break” for a week or 2 with perhaps some Zwift racing like you mention or just goofing around and finally the custom plan for the event.